“Democrats believe we must permanently extend tax cuts for the middle-class before they expire at the end of the year, and we will,” said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “Unfortunately, to this point we have received no cooperation from Republicans to do so.”

Democrats in the House still may act on the issue before the election, but are wary of a vote that could be represented as a tax hike.